Host an Exchange Student
The Hosting Experience
What Is It Like to Host a Foreign Exchange Student?
Most host families are busy American families who simply include their exchange student in their normal routines. You do not need to create a special lifestyle or provide constant entertainment.
Your exchange student becomes part of your everyday family life—sharing meals, conversations, activities, school events, hobbies, celebrations, and the ordinary moments that make a house feel like home.
What does a host family provide?
Generally, host families provide:
- A safe and caring family environment
- A bed and suitable living space
- Three nutritious meals each day
- A quiet place for the student to study
- Reasonable assistance with transportation
- Guidance and support as the student adjusts to American life
- An opportunity to participate in family and community activities
- Clear family expectations, rules, and responsibilities
Your student is expected to participate in family life, respect your household rules, attend the local high school, and become involved in school and community activities.
The goal is not to be a tour guide. The goal is to be a family.
Who Can Become an Exchange Student Host Family?
You may be surprised by how many different types of Americans make wonderful host families.
NWSE welcomes families from many different backgrounds and households, including:
- Families with children
- Families whose children are grown
- Single parents
- Single adults
- Married couples without children
- Empty nesters
- Families with different cultural or international backgrounds
You do not need to have children at home to be a wonderful host family. You do not need to be an experienced international traveler or provide a special lifestyle.
What is most important is that you can provide a safe, caring, and supportive environment and are interested in sharing your family life with a young person from another country.
NWSE carefully screens and matches exchange students and host families. We consider factors such as interests, personalities, hobbies, and family circumstances to help create a successful exchange experience.
We Don’t Have Children. Can We Still Host?
Absolutely! Host parents without children in the home have proven to be great host parents. Exchange students can form close friendships with other young people through their classes, sports, clubs, as well as school and community activities.
NWSE encourages exchange students to become involved in their school and local community and to make friends with other students. Let us help you find a student whom you would enjoy welcoming into your family.
I’m Single and Don’t Have Children. Can I Host an Exchange Student?
Yes! Some of our most committed host families are single adults without children or adults whose children have grown and left home. We are happy to help you select a student who may be a good match for you and your lifestyle.
We Are Busy. Do We Have to Entertain Our Exchange Student?
No. Host families are not expected to act as tour guides or provide constant entertainment. The purpose of an exchange program is for students to learn about American culture by participating in the everyday life of their host family, school, and community. Your student can simply become part of your normal family activities
Of course, we encourage families to show their student the interesting places and activities in their local community when it is convenient to do so. These everyday experiences are often some of the most meaningful parts of an exchange. Activities such as sharing a meal, attending a school event, celebrating a holiday, watching a movie, or participating in a family activity can all become special memories for your student. The relationships, insights, and skills that students and host families gain during the exchange are the greatest rewards of the program.
I can’t afford to host an exchange student
Host families are not responsible for the student’s personal expenses, including travel, meals purchased outside the home, sports and activity expenses, toiletries, phone charges, school expenses, medical costs, etc. Host families must be able to provide a warm, supportive and caring environment, three nutritious meals/day, and perhaps some assistance with rides to and from activities. Let us know if you have any specific question or concern.
I expect to be away from home for some time during the exchange
Exchange students can stay with a family of one of their or your friends during your absence. Don’t let a few trips during the year prevent you from an amazing experience! NWSE will take care of screening those families, if necessary.
We can’t commit to hosting for a full semester or school year. Can we still host?
Yes! Depending on the availability of students in your area, you may be able to welcome an exchange student as a Welcome Host Family for the first few weeks or months of the student’s stay in the United States. NWSE can then place the student with a Long-Term Host Family in your community.
Of course, sometimes Welcome Host Families and students enjoy their experience so much that the family decides to continue hosting! Welcome hosting can be a wonderful way to experience international cultural exchange while helping a student begin their American experience.